Stuart Rabner addresses Bar Association in A.C.

A bit of a South Jersey feel to today's Daily Quickie calendar of the goings-on in New Jersey politics for Friday, May 16th, 2014 -- with Gov. Chris Christie at Rowan, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner addressing the Bar Association conference in Atlantic City and Democrats wrapping up their annual convention in A.C.

Gov. Chris Christie speaks, and receives an honorary degree, at the Rowan University commencement. It's scheduled for 10 a.m. at Wackar Stadium in Glassboro but will move to Wilson Hall's Pfleeger Concert Hall if it's raining.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno visits an IHOP Restaurant, 10 a.m. in Keyport, for a ribbon cutting ceremony, under the a "Jersey Bayshore Open for Business" label.

At today's final day of the State Bar Association conference in Atlantic City, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner -- whose term expires next month, and it's not yet known if he will be renominated by Christie -- and U.S. District Chief Judge Jerome Simandle each deliver "state of the judiciary" speeches. Retired Justice Gary Stein addresses the conference about judicial reappointments.

After the speeches, the conference feature a program titled “Judicial Independence: How Today's Political Climate Affects our Courts.” Speakers include former Gov. Brendan Byrne, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Sen. Nicholas Scutari, Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Kevin O’Toole, Senate Judiciary Committee member, Rutgers University general counsel and former state Attorney General John Farmer Jr. and Professor Paula Franzese of the Seton Hall University School of Law.

Democratic State Committee wraps up its annual convention in Atlantic City. Events include Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Newark Mayor-elect Ras Baraka addressing a lunch and U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez addressing a "congressional dinner" honoring retiring U.S. Rep. Rush Holt and resigned U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews.

Booker delivers opening remarks at a forum for New Jersey small manufacturers, being held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the New Jersey Institute of Technology's College of Architecture and Design in Newark, to highlight federal resources available to help local small manufacturers. He then delivers the commencement speech at Ramapo College's graduation at the Izod Center in East Rutherford.

Menendez visits the Newark Farmers Market, a food distribution center in the Ironbound, with U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., 11 a.m. in Newark. The facility has been constructed, upgraded and is currently being expanded thanks in part to millions in federal New Market Tax Credits.

As part of National Military Appreciation Month, the state judiciary's Morris/Sussex Vicinage holds a ceremony to honor judges, court staff and others who have served in the armed forces, 12:30 p.m. in Morristown. Harry Ettlinger of Rockaway, one of the five surviving members of the World War II Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives unit, now known as the “Monuments Men,” speaks to the audience about his experiences.

Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee meets, 9:30 a.m. in Newark.

Today's birthdays: Sen. Brian Stack, 48.

And over the upcoming weekend ...

On Saturday, the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision that banned public school segregation, a coalition of unions and community organizations releases a community education plan for Newark’s public schools, 11 a.m. at Lincoln Park in downtown Newark. Speakers include Mayor-elect Ras Baraka. The groups oppose Schools Superintendent Cami Anderson's "One Newark" plan.

On Saturday, Island Beach State Park kicks off its summer event season by hosting a free Ocean Fun Day, an annual environmental education event for children and families, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday at noon, more than 100 citizens and environmental activists are joined by Mayor Gary Engelstad gather in Bradley Beach for a "Hands Across the Sand" event, one of many events around the country. They will hold hands for 15 minutes in a line to symbolically reject offshore drilling, seismic testing and use of fossil fuels.

On Sunday, former Gov. Thomas Kean is the keynote speaker at Rutgers University's 248th anniversary commencement, 12:30 p.m. at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sends her regrets.

On Sunday, Island Beach State Park hosts the 23rd annual Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament, marking the first time the competition will be held in the spring, rather than October.

Statehouse Reporter:
Michael Symons is one of the longest-tenured reporters currently covering New Jersey politics from the Statehouse in Trenton, an assignment that has spanned six governors – though because it’s been a particularly tumultuous era, that’s actually only been since 2000. Before being assigned to Trenton, where his specialties include the state budget, Michael worked at the Home News Tribune (back when it had an ampersand in its name) and one of its predecessors, The News Tribune. He’s a lifelong New Jerseyan, raised in North Arlington in Bergen County and currently living in East Amwell in Hunterdon County, with a stop in between to graduate from Rutgers University in New Brunswick in 1993. Michael is co-author of the first biography of Gov. Chris Christie, ""Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power,"" published in 2012 by St. Martin’s Press. He has appeared on national television outlets such as MSNBC and C-SPAN, is a regular guest on NJTV’s public-affairs program Reporters Roundtable and has been interviewed on radio stations in New Jersey and around the country. In 2008, he created a state politics blog, Capitol Quickies, that continues to provide news and not-quite-news about New Jersey, its politics and government, including a daily scene-setter of the state’s political calendar. He’s on Twitter at @MichaelSymons_, where every week he receives inquiries about cooking he’s ill-equipped to answer from people hoping to connect with the similarly named Iron Chef star.